Signs in Luke's seventh chapter

More questions to propel your thought toward the Messiah, as we look through Ch. 7 of Dr. Luke's gospel:

1. Does Dr. Luke record the righteous actions of another centurion in Acts of the Apostles?
2. Does Jesus believe in signs?
3. How does a sign of contradiction work?
4. The catechism says that John the Baptist is "more than a prophet." In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John the Baptist is compared and connected to the great prophet Elijah, but John the Baptist never raised up any sons of widows. What does this tell you about the nature of Jesus’ frequent use of "Make my day" tactics?
5. How many contradictions are there in the house of Simon, where Jesus had supper?
6. What is Jesus' concluding word to the woman who was a sinner? What does it signify?
7. Where do you see the Holy Spirit on the move at this supper in the house of Simon?

Let's get rolling with this set of questions + some delicious coffee, and get a hold of seeing into the signs of contradiction today.

How to follow the Lord into battle

In the second half of Luke's sixth chapter, there are several challenges to love your enemy. One could ask a few questions about that, viz.

1. How does the sacrament of confession help us become merciful as God the Father is merciful?
2. When Jesus directs us, Bless those who curse you, that applies only to priests and deacons, correct?
3. Sometimes we are confronted by situations for which making moral judgments is less assured and decision difficult. What part of Jesus’ instruction here is the most important to remember if you seriously seek what is right and good?
4. How successful have you been at taking these verses seriously?

Four questions, but they cover a lot of ground. Let's get down to it this morning.

Hunger and fasting

The end of the fifth chapter and the beginning of the sixth chapter of Dr. Luke's gospel have to do with fasting and eating. Here are some questions to get the brain out of neutral, setting the alert level up a notch:

1. The Bridegroom Jesus is how Jesus describes himself here at the end of Luke 5, and in Matthew’s parables on Judgement Day and in Revelation. How does that Judgement Day view relate to the sabbath as shown in Luke 6:1-11?
2. 
   As always, Jesus supports the Torah, but not necessarily in agreement with the scribes and teachers of the Torah. Why would his actions in vv. 1-10 enrage the scribes?
3. Does the Torah have an independent existence, independent of Moses and his whole history, for instance? Why?
4. Again we see Jesus head up the mountain to pray. What was his prayer like?

How do these concepts lead us to freedom and guide our feet on the way to peace?